Methods and systems for implementation of the calling name delivery service through use of a location register in a network element in a wireless network

ABSTRACT

Methods and systems for providing for calling party name and/or other information corresponding to a wireless unit to be stored in association with an identifier of the wireless unit in a location register such as the home location register (HLR) in a network element of a wireless network. The network element is configured to accept and support the TR-1188, wireless intelligent network (WIN), or the like messaging processes. When a calling party uses a wireless unit to make a call to a wireline unit of a subscriber having calling name delivery service, the call is routed in a conventional manner to the service switching point (SSP) serving the calling line of the wireline unit. Based on the called party&#39;s status as a subscriber, the SSP uses the appropriate messaging process in a query/response exchange to obtain the calling party name and/or other information from the appropriate network element that includes the calling name (or other information) in or has access to an appropriate location register. The SSP then may provide the calling party name and/or other information for display on the wireline unit or associated display device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/347,832 filed Jan. 21, 2003, the contents of which are incorporatedby reference herein in their entirety, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 09/378,904 filed Aug. 23, 1999, the contentsof which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTIONS

The present inventions relate to communications, and particularly,relate to the provision of a calling name and/or other informationrelating to a wireless unit used to make a call to a called party usinga wireline unit and having a calling name delivery service.

BACKGROUND

The communications service known as calling name delivery oridentification is popular with customers. Calling name delivery also maybe referred to as calling name presentation (CNAP). A calling namedelivery service provides identification of the calling party (e.g.,personal name, company name, “restricted”, “unavailable”, etc.) and/orother information to the called party. In particular, a customer whosubscribes to a calling name delivery service typically has atelecommunications unit or device that allows for the real-time displayof a calling party name and/or other information associated with areceived call. A calling name delivery service also may be referred toas an information delivery service, especially when the delivery servicedelivers information in addition to or other than a calling name.

The calling name delivery service generally provides calling name(and/or other information) for calls between wireline (also referred toas a landline) units. For example, assume Scott and Laura each have awireline unit (such as a telephone) in their respective homes. Scottuses his home telephone to call Laura at home. Laura subscribes to acalling name delivery service, and thus, Scott's name appears on thedisplay of Laura's home telephone when he calls Laura.

Unfortunately, the above-described process of calling name delivery isnot applicable to a call from a wireless unit such as a cell phone orother mobile phone to a wireline unit. For example, assume Scott useshis car phone to call Laura at home. As noted, Laura subscribes to thecalling name delivery service. But the communications system is unableto delivery Scott's name or other information associated with thereceived call to Laura's home telephone.

The principal reason the communications system is unable to deliveryScott's name when he is using his car phone is that there is no callingname database or other source available to provide Scott's nameassociated with his cell phone for display on Laura's home telephone. Incontrast, in the wireline example, a calling name database typicallystores information associated with each calling line served in a region.But a wireless unit is not associated with a calling line in thephysical sense that a wireline unit is associated with a calling line.Thus, information related to a wireless unit is not typically stored ina calling name database that includes information related to callinglines served in a general region. Scott's call from his car phoneresults in a display on Laura's home telephone that may read:“Information unavailable” or “out of area”.

A subscriber to a calling name delivery service generally is not pleasedto repeatedly receive the “information unavailable” or “out of area”notice on his or her display in association with a call. The subscribermay believe that he or she is not getting his or her money's worth interms of the fees he or she pays for the calling name delivery service.Further, a subscriber to a calling name delivery service becomesaccustomed to viewing the display of calling party information and feelsfrustrated when such information is not forthcoming.

Unfortunately, previous attempts to incorporate wireless units in acalling name delivery service have not proved entirely successful. Asnoted above, calling name information associated with a wireless unit isnot generally incorporated in a calling name database used to find nameor other information associated with a wireline unit. A calling namedatabase includes entries that may be indexed based on the calling lineon which a call originates. A wireless unit is not associated with acalling line. Thus, the characteristics of a wireless unit do not fitthe entry format in a typical calling line database serving wirelineunits.

A separate database for wireless units has been suggested. For example,the wireless database may be set up to include entries so as to providecalling name and/or other information associated with a wireless unitwhose owner is based within a “home” region. But, unlike a wirelineunit, a wireless unit is mobile and may operate outside its home regionin a visited region. A wireless unit operating in a visited region issaid to be “roaming”. If the user of the wireless unit makes a callwhile roaming, the calling name delivery service may be unable to findany information about the roaming unit. The service again displays the“information unavailable” or “out of area” notice to the subscriber.

Moreover, given the nature of wireless units, the distribution and useof wireless units is generally more dynamic than that of wireline units.A customer may have the same wireline number (also referred to as adirectory number or a telephone number) for years. But the same customeror household may have more than one wireless unit. A customer may loseor have his or her wireless unit stolen. A customer may buy new wirelessunits and discard the old ones as technology improves. A customer mayswitch relatively frequently upon contract expiration or for otherreasons among wireless service providers and each time garner a new ordifferent wireless unit.

This dynamic distribution and use of wireless units makes it difficultto keep track of wireless units. For example, assume a wireless databaseis set up to include entries so as to provide calling name and/or otherinformation associated with a wireless unit. Also assume the problemsassociated with a roaming unit in the delivery of calling name serviceare solved or at least minimized. Entries in the wireless database needto be routinely and repeatedly updated so as to provide correctinformation in the calling name delivery service. With the dynamicdistribution and use of wireless units, keeping up with the many changesto the entries in a wireless database is not an insignificant task. Thistask is complicated by the need to keep the calling name and/or otherinformation regarding a wireless unit in the wireless calling namedatabase in synchronicity with the information regarding the wirelessunit in a home location register (HLR) of a mobile switching center(MSC) or other wireless network element. This synchronicity may bedifficult to achieve and result in discrepancies between the wirelesscalling name database and the HLR.

Another previous attempt to incorporate wireless units in a calling namedelivery service is described in the patent to Serbetcioglu et al., U.S.Pat. No. 5,511,111, entitled “Caller Name and IdentificationCommunication System with Caller Screening Option.” Serbetcioglu et al.adds a feature server to an existing network. The network feature serverintercepts an incoming call for a called subscriber and prompts thecaller to either speak his or her name, or speak or punch a pin number.The called subscriber then is played the caller's spoken name or isprovided with information that is associated with the pin number enteredby the caller.

There are drawbacks to the use of Serbetcioglu et al. 's feature server.A drawback is that Serbetcioglu et al. requires that another element(the feature server) be added to the telecommunications network. Inaddition, in Serbetcioglu et al., calls must be routed for interceptionby the feature server. Thus, Serbetcioglu et al. requires re-routing ofcurrent patterns. Yet another drawback is that Serbetcioglu et al.generally does not provide information for all callers for display suchas generally provided by calling name delivery services. Only thosecallers who have been previously entered by the called subscriber intothe feature server may have their names displayed. Other “unknown”callers are requested to speak their names, and the caller's spoken nameis delivered to the called subscriber. The delivery of a spoken namegenerally requires the called subscriber to listen on his or her handsetor otherwise get more involved with the call than by simply glancing atthe display unit for the name of the calling party.

Accordingly, there is a need for methods and systems that provide acalling party name and/or other information corresponding to a wirelessunit where the wireless unit used to make a call to the wireline unit ofa subscriber having a calling name delivery service.

SUMMARY

Generally stated, the present inventions relate to methods and systemsfor providing for calling party name and/or other information associatedwith a wireless unit to be delivered to a wireline unit as part of acalling name delivery service. To implement such service, the methodsand systems provide for calling party name and/or other informationassociated with a wireless unit to be associated with the mobileidentity number (MIN) and/or mobile directory number (MDN) of thewireless unit in a location register (LR) such as the home locationregister (HLR) in a network element of a wireless network. The networkelement is configured to accept and support the TR-1188, wirelessintelligent network (WIN), or the like messaging processes.

Advantageously, the calling party name and/or other information for aparticular wireless unit may be provisioned into or updated at the sametime the MIN and/or MDN of the wireless unit is set up or updated in theLR. Another advantage is that a separate calling name database forwireless units is not required and the problems associated with such aseparate calling name database are obviated.

When a calling party uses a wireless unit to make a call to a wirelineunit of a subscriber having calling name delivery service, the call isrouted in a conventional manner to the service switching point (SSP)serving the calling line of the wireline unit. Based on the calledparty's status as a subscriber, the SSP uses the appropriate messagingprocess in a query/response exchange to obtain the calling party nameand/or other information from the appropriate network element thatincludes the calling party name (and/or other information) in or hasaccess to an appropriate location register. The SSP then delivers thecalling party name (and/or other information) over the calling line fordisplay on the called party's wireline unit or other display device.Advantageously, the subscriber to calling name delivery service who isusing a wireline unit is provided with the service with respect towireless units as well as wireline units.

More specifically stated, the present inventions relate to an exemplarymethod to provide a wireline unit with information corresponding to awireless unit when the wireless unit makes a call to the wireline unit.This method may be implemented in an environment of a communicationssystem including a wireless network and a wireline network. The wirelessnetwork includes a network element functionally connected to thewireline network. The network element also is functionally connected toa location register (LR) with the LR including at least an entrycorresponding to a wireless unit. The entry includes a mobileidentification number (MIN) and/or a mobile directory number (MDN) ofthe wireless unit. The wireline network includes a service switchingpoint (SSP) serving a wireline unit. Pursuant to this exemplary method,the MIN and/or the MDN in the entry in the LR are associated withinformation corresponding to the wireless unit.

When the wireless unit calls the wireline unit, the SSP serving thewireline unit notes that the wireline unit is to be provided withcalling name delivery service. The SSP initiates a query/responseexchange with a network element in the wireless network so as to obtaininformation, such as the calling party name, regarding the wirelessunit. In particular, the SSP routes a query to the network element inthe wireless network based on the MIN and/or MDN of the wireless unit.The query is routed through the communications system until it arrivesat the appropriate network element.

In response to receipt of the query by the network element, the networkelement uses the MIN and/or the MDN with the LR to find the entry in theLR including the MIN and/or the MDN. Based on the information associatedwith the MIN and/or MDN in the entry, the LR retrieves the informationcorresponding to the wireless unit and provides the information to thenetwork element. The network element then provides the information in aresponse routed through the communications system to the SSP. Uponreceipt of the response, the SSP provides the information to thewireline unit. Upon receipt of the information, the wireline unit maydisplay the information to the called party. Advantageously, the calledparty may be provided with the calling party name of the person usingthe wireless unit to call the called party.

The present inventions also provide an exemplary LR for use in a networkelement of a wireless network. The LR typically includes a plurality ofentries with each entry including a MIN and/or MDN correspondingrespectively to a wireless unit. Each MIN and/or MDN of an entry isassociated with information, such as calling party name information,corresponding respectively to the wireless unit. The information isretrievable based on the MIN and/or MDN of the wireless unit forprovision in response to a query for the information received by thenetwork element of the wireless network. Advantageously, the LR allowsfor information corresponding to a wireless unit to be retrieved fromthe LR through use of an entry having the MIN and/or the MDN in commonwith the wireless unit.

In the exemplary LR, the information associated with the MIN and/or MDNof an entry may include a name, and a presentation indicator associatedwith a name. Further, the information may include a calling namesubsystem number or a calling name translation type.

Further, the present inventions relate to an exemplary method for an LRof a network element in a wireless network to provide informationassociated with a wireless unit. Pursuant to this method, the LR isprovisioned to include a plurality of entries with each entry includinga MIN and/or MDN and corresponding respectively to a wireless unit. EachMIN and/or MDN of an entry is associated with information correspondingrespectively to the wireless unit.

The LR may receive a query for information related to a wireless unit.For example, the query may seek the calling party name associated withthe wireless unit. In response to receipt of a query including the MINand/or the MDN, the LR uses the MIN and/or the MDN to find an entryhaving the MIN and/or the MDN in common with the query. The LR may checkwhether the information associated with the MIN and/or the MDN includesa presentation allowance or other such indicator. Based on theinformation being associated with the MIN and/or the MDN of the entry,the LR retrieves the information corresponding to the wireless unit. TheLR then provides the information in a response to the query. In anexemplary embodiment, prior to providing the information, the LR maycheck that a presentation indicator including a presentation allowanceis present in the information. In some cases, the information mayinclude a presentation indicator that includes a presentationrestriction. If a presentation restriction is included in theinformation, the LR may provide a response to the query, but theresponse may include notice of the presentation restriction and fail toinclude the information sought by the query.

Therefore, it is an object of the present inventions to provide methodsand systems that provide a calling party name and/or other informationto a wireline unit where the wireless unit used to make a call to thewireline unit of a subscriber having a calling name delivery service.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary environment for implementation and/oroperation of exemplary embodiments of the present inventions.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary method of the present inventions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Generally stated, the present inventions relate to methods and systemsthat provide a calling party name and/or other information associatedwith a wireless unit to a wireline unit of a subscriber having a callingname delivery service.

An exemplary embodiment implements the present inventions by providingfor a calling party name and/or other information associated with awireless unit to be stored in association with the mobile identitynumber (MIN) and/or mobile directory number (MDN) in a location register(LR) such as the home location register (HLR) in or functionallyconnected to a network element (such as a service control point (SCP))in a wireless network of a communications system.

When a calling party uses a wireless unit to make a call to a wirelineunit of a subscriber having a calling name delivery service in awireline network, the call is routed in a conventional manner from thewireless network to the wireline network, and in particular, to theservice switching point (SSP) serving the calling line of the wirelineunit. Based on the called party's status as a subscriber to calling namedelivery service (e.g., the called party's line is enabled for theservice), the SSP obtains the calling party name and/or otherinformation in a query/response exchange with the appropriate networkelement that includes the calling name (and/or other information) in orhas access to an appropriate location register (LR). Advantageously, theSSP may provide the calling party name and/or other information fordisplay on the called party's wireline unit or display device.

Additional details regarding the present inventions are provided belowbeginning with a description of an exemplary environment (FIG. 1), adescription of the provisioning of an exemplary HLR of an exemplarynetwork element in a wireless network, and a description of call flow ina call from a wireless unit to a wireline unit of a subscriber havingcalling name delivery service (FIG. 2).

Exemplary Environment—FIG. 1

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary environment of a communications system 6for implementation and/or operation of exemplary embodiments of thepresent inventions. Communications system 6 includes a wireless network8 and a wireline network 10. The wireline network 10 may be the publicswitched telecommunications network (PSTN) or the like. A wirelinenetwork also may be referred to as a landline network. The wirelinenetwork 10 includes a plurality of end offices which are represented byservice switching point (SSP or switch) 12. An SSP typically includesswitch functionality, but also includes other functionality so as tocommunicate with other network elements, and in particular, withAdvanced Intelligent Network (AIN) elements.

An SSP is coupled to one or more subscriber lines, which also may bereferred to as calling lines or telephone lines. Each SSP serves adesignated group of calling lines, and thus, the SSP that serves aparticular calling line may be referred to as its serving switch. Arepresentative calling line 13 is illustrated as being served by SSP 12.Each calling line is assigned a ten digit calling line number, whichalso may be referred to as a telephone number or directory number. Forexample, a calling line number may be in the form of “NPA-NXX-XXXX.” Thecalling line 13 is typically connected to a piece of terminatingequipment such as a telephone 14. Although a telephone is illustrated asthe terminating equipment, terminating equipment may include othertelecommunications devices including, but not limited to facsimilemachines, computers, modems, etc. Thus, to reach a particular subscriberassociated with the telephone 14, a caller dials the telephone numberassigned to the calling line connected to the telephone 14. The call isrouted from the caller through the communications system 6, and inparticular, through the wireline network 10 until the call arrives atthe SSP 12 serving the calling line 13 connected to the telephone 14.

SSP 12 is interconnected to other SSPs by a plurality of trunk circuits(not illustrated). These are the voice path trunks that interconnect theSSPs to connect communications. The solid lines (other than arrows)connecting the elements in the figures represent voice links. Each ofthe SSPs is connected to another type of AIN element referred to as alocal signal transfer point (STP) 16 via respective data links. Thedashed lines connecting the elements in the figures represent datalinks. Currently, these data links employ a signaling protocol referredto as Signaling System 7 (SS7). Much of the intelligence of the AINresides in yet another type of element referred to as a service controlpoint (SCP) (not illustrated) that may be connected to STP 16 and otherelements (not illustrated) over SS7 data links.

As noted, the communications system 6 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes awireless network 8 and a wireline network 10. The wireless network 8 maybe a cellular system, a personal communications service (PCS) system, aglobal standard for mobile communications (GSM) system, a wirelessintelligent network (WIN), or other system wherein radio technology isused in communications. A device operating in the wireless network 8 maybe referred to as a wireless unit, a wireless communications unit (WCU),a mobile phone, a cell phone, a car phone, or the like. Generally, theexemplary wireless network 8 and the devices operating therein operatepursuant to a standard entitled “Cellular Radio-TelecommunicationsIntersystem Operation”, established by the Telecommunications IndustryAssociation (TIA), 2500 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Va. 22201. Thisstandard is commonly referred to as ANSI-41. See also ANSI-41D, AmericanNational Standards Institute, New York, N.Y., and TIA/EIA-41D, CellularRadiotelecommunications Intersystem Operations, December 1997, andTIA/EIA-41-D Enhancements for Wireless Calling. Name FeatureDescriptions, June 1998, Telecommunications Industry Association(TIA)/Electronic Industries Association (EIA), Standards & TechnologyDepartment, 2500 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Va. 22201, which areincorporated herein by reference.

The wireless network 8 may be functionally connected to the wirelinenetwork 10 in a number of ways. FIG. 1 illustrates a connection betweenthe wireless network 8 and the wireline network 10 through an accesstandem 18. This type of connection through the access tandem 18generally carries voice traffic between the wireless network 8 and thewireline network 10. In addition to connecting wireless and wirelinenetworks, access tandems may be used to connect other elements of acommunications system such as two SSPs of a wireline network. Further,an access tandem 18 may be connected to elements of the wireless network8 or wireline network 10 through data links as illustrated in FIG. 1 bythe data link between STP 16 in the wireline network 10 and the accesstandem 18.

As illustrated, the access tandem 18 is connected to a mobile switchingcenter (MSC) 20 (also referred to as a mobile switch). An MSC in thewireless network 8 may be likened to a switch in the wireline network 10in that an MSC directs communications to and from wireless units servedby the MSC. But unlike a switch in the wireline network 10, an MSCtypically stores or has access to information about wireless unitsoperating in an area or region served by the MSC. Particularly, an MSCgenerally includes or has access to two location registers (notillustrated) for the storage of information about wireless units. A homelocation register (HLR) (not illustrated) includes entries for wirelessunits that are considered to be “home” units to the MSC. A visitors'location register (VLR) (not illustrated) includes entries for wirelessunits that are “roaming” in the region served by the MSC. An MSC 20typically is connected by wireline to one or more base stations such asstation 22. A base station 22 uses radio technology to send and toreceive communications to and from wireless units operating within therange of the base station 22.

FIG. 1 illustrates a cell phone 24 as the wireless unit operating in thewireless network 8, but a wireless unit may include other devicesoperating based on radio technology in communications.

The wireless network 8 in FIG. 1 also includes an STP 26 that isconnected to other elements of the communications system 6. Asillustrated, STP 26 is connected by respective data links to the MSC 20in the wireless network 8, to the STP 16 in the wireline network 10, andto a service control point (SCP) 28 in the wireless network 8. Asdiscussed briefly above in connection with the SCPs that may be presentin a wireline network 10, an SCP such as SCP 28 in the wireless network8 is generally an intelligent network element. Typically, an SCPincludes service package applications (SPAs), programming, and/or thelike for the implementation of communications and other services tosubscribers. An SCP also may include and/or have access to databases,tables, or other storage for information related to subscribers, andparticularly, information that may be helpful in the implementation ofcommunications and other services to subscribers.

FIG. 1 illustrates that SCP 28 is at least functionally connected tolocation register (LR), and specifically, to a home location register(HLR) 30. Although HLR 30 is illustrated as separate from SCP 28, HLR 30may be included as part of SCP 28. Alternatively, or in addition, HLR 30may be a separate unit or may be included as part of another networkelement such as MSC 20. Further, HLR 30 may be connected to SCP 28 byline connection and/or by data links. In this exemplary embodiment, theHLR 30 includes entries for wireless units that are considered to be“home” units to MSC 20. The cell phone 24 is a wireless unit that is a“home” unit of MSC 20. Thus, HLR 30 includes an entry for cell phone 24.But the HLR 30 also may include entries for wireless units (notillustrated) that are considered to be “home” units to other MSCs (notillustrated) in the wireless network 8. Additional details regarding theinformation stored in the entries of HLR 30 are provided below.

Provisioning of an Exemplary LR

An exemplary embodiment of the present inventions provides for thestorage of or access to calling name and/or other information related toa person/entity associated with a wireless unit in or by a locationregister (LR) such as the home location register (HLR) of a networkelement in a wireless network. FIG. 1 illustrates that such an LR may bethe HLR 30 that is functionally connected to the network elementreferenced as SCP 28. The LR may be another register, database, table,or the like that may include the information described below inconnection, correspondence, or association with an exemplary entry. Thenetwork element generally may be any intelligent network element (suchas the SCP 28 or an intelligent peripheral) that is at leastfunctionally connected to the LR and that is provisioned as describedbelow in connection with the exemplary SCP 28 or provisionedequivalently.

The calling name and/or other information related to the person/entityassociated with the wireless unit may be stored in or accessed by theHLR in an entry, in a calling name table, or database, or in other ways,such that the calling name and/or other information may be retrieved byusing the mobile identity number (MIN) and/or mobile directory number(MDN) of the wireless unit. For example, the calling name associatedwith the wireless unit 24 may be stored in the HLR 30 in associationwith the MIN and/or MDN of the wireless unit 24.

Advantageously, the calling party name and/or other information for aparticular wireless unit may be provisioned into or updated at the sametime the MIN and/or MDN of the wireless unit is set up or updated in theLR. Another advantage is that a separate calling name database forwireless units is not required and the problems associated with such aseparate calling name database are obviated.

As well as storing the calling name and/or other information in the HLRor otherwise, the network element (illustrated as the SCP 28) isconfigured so as to be accessible and responsive to queries, inquiries,requests or the like for the calling name and/or other information fromother elements of the communications system 6, and in particular, fromelements (such as the SSPs) of the wireline network 10. For example, thenetwork element such as SCP 28 may be configured to accept a queryincluding the MIN and/or MDN of the wireless unit 24 originating fromSSP 12 in the wireline network 10, and in response to the query, toprovide a response that includes a calling name and/or other informationretrieved from or through the HLR 30 on the basis or use of the MINand/or MDN provided in the query.

An exemplary embodiment provides network elements such as the SCP 28,and the functionally connected HLR 30 to store the calling name and/orother information, to be accessible, and to respond to queries,inquiries, requests and the like for the calling name and/or otherinformation by providing the SCP 28 with programming (such as a servicepackage application (SPA) or the like) so as to recognize and supportTR-1188, WIN, or the like message processing. TR-1188 message processingrefers to the Technical Reference, TR-NWT-001188, Issue 1, December1991, LSSGR, LATA Switching System Generic Requirements, CLASS Feature:Calling Name Delivery Generic Requirements, FSD 01-01-1070, BellCommunications Research, Inc. (BellCore), Morristown, N.J., which isincorporated herein by reference.

As those skilled in the art recognize, TR-1188 message processing isused in the provision of calling name delivery service in wirelinenetworks. Advantageously, the configuration of a network element in awireless network to recognize and support TR-1188 message processingallows wireline network elements such as an SSP to conduct aquery/response exchange for calling name information with a wirelessnetwork element such as the SCP 28.

By way of additional explanation, an exemplary call flow is providedimmediately below in connection with FIG. 2 with respect to the displayon a wireline unit of a calling name associated with a wireless unitused to make a call to the wireline unit.

An Exemplary Call Flow—FIG. 2

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary method of the present inventions. Assumefor this exemplary method that a customer (Scott) of the serviceprovider for the wireline network 10 subscribes to a calling namedelivery service. Scott's wireline unit 14 is connected by calling line13 and is served by SSP 12. Scott's calling line 13 has been assignedthe directory number of 404.847.2400. As Scott is a subscriber tocalling name delivery service, Scott's calling line 13 is enabled forthat service. Such enablement may be accomplished in any manner ofdifferent ways. For example, Scott's serving SSP 12 may include lineinformation for Scott's calling line 13 that enables Scott's callingline 13 for calling name delivery service. As another example, Scott'scalling line may be provisioned with a terminating attempt trigger (TAT)such that the serving SSP 12 obtains instructions from another wirelinenetwork element (such as an SCP or an intelligent peripheral (notillustrated)) on how to handle a call for Scott's calling line 13.

Also assume for this example that a customer (Laura) of the serviceprovider for the wireless network 8 uses a wireless unit 24. Uponsubscription to wireless service in the wireless network 8, informationregarding Laura and her wireless unit 36 is provisioned in an entry inthe HLR 30 of SCP 28. The entry corresponding to Laura is typically oneof a plurality of entries corresponding to other subscribers of wirelessservice. In particular, Laura's entry in the HLR 30 is provisioned toinclude at least a mobile identity number (MIN) and/or a mobiledirectory number (MDN) 32 for Laura's wireless unit 24.

In the exemplary embodiments, a MIN and/or MDN of an entry in thenetwork element may be associated with information corresponding to theappropriate respective wireless unit (i.e., the wireless unit of the MINand/or MDN). The information may include a source indicator such as acalling party name (such as the subscriber's personal name, nickname,etc.), the name of an entity, or the like, (such as the name of abusiness if the wireless unit is used in connection with a business),and/or other information that may be provided as an indication of thesource of a call (such as geographic information). For example, the MINand/or MDN 32 of Laura's entry may be associated with Laura's personalname.

In addition to the source indicator, the information may include anindicator (“presentation indicator”) as to whether the source indicator(and/or other information) is to be provided in response to a query,inquiry, or request for such information. The presentation indicator inthe information may include a presentation restriction, a presentationallowance, and/or a variable presentation option, or the like.Generally, a variable presentation option is a “toggle” option thatallows the subscriber to switch back and forth between a “presentationallowance” and “presentation restriction”. Typically, such a switch ortoggle is implemented by a subscriber dialing a special feature code orthe like. In response to receipt of the special feature code, theappropriate system or application (such as in the SCP 28 or HLR 30)arranges for the opposite presentation or restriction of what had beenassociated with the subscriber.

For example, assume Laura's presentation indicator is set topresentation allowance so that her name is presented to called partieswhen Laura makes calls using her wireless unit. Assume Laura desires tomake a prank call to a friend and does not want to have the friendalerted to her identity when she makes the prank call using her wirelessunit. In that case, Laura may toggle her presentation indicator from“presentation allowance” to “presentation restriction”. When Laura makesher prank call, her name then is not presented to the called party. Ofcourse, there are more serious and more practical uses for the variablepresentation option. For example, a physician calling a patient at thepatient's place of employment may toggle the indicator to “presentationrestriction” so as to maintain patient confidentiality.

In addition to the source indicator and the presentation indicator, theinformation may include data (“implementation data”) related to theimplementation of the calling name delivery service such as a statusindicator, a calling name subsystem number, a calling name translationtype, or the like.

An association between the MIN and/or MDN 32 of an entry and theinformation corresponding to a wireless unit may be accomplished in anymanner of different ways. For example, the entry including the MINand/or the MDN may include the information as part of the entry. Asanother example, the entry or the MIN and/or MDN of the entry may serveas a pointer, flag, etc. or include a pointer, flag, etc. to anotherstorage medium (such as a database, table, or the like) including theinformation corresponding to the wireless unit. The other storage mediummay be included in the HLR 30, the SCP 28, or another network elementsuch as an MSC 20. Preferably, the association is accomplished in such amanner that the information corresponding to the wireless unit may beretrieved based on the MIN and/or MDN of the wireless unit.

As noted, the information corresponding to the wireless unit andassociated with the MIN and/or MDN in an entry of the HLR may include apresentation indicator such as a presentation restriction, apresentation allowance, and/or a variable presentation option, or thelike. By inclusion of such a presentation indicator in the information,the HLR 30 is effectively provisioned so that the MIN and/or MDN forLaura's wireless unit 24 is associated with a presentation allowance orpresentation restriction related respectively to Laura's desire or lackthereof to have her source indicator (such as her personal name)presented or not presented to called parties. Assume for this examplethat the presentation indicator is a presentation allowance, i.e.,Laura's information may be presented to a called party when Laura usesher cell phone to make a call to the called party.

Referring again to the example illustrated in FIG. 2, assume that Laurahas initiated a call from her wireless unit 24 to Scott's home telephone14 by dialing Scott's directory number (404.847.2400). Laura's call isrouted in a conventional manner from her wireless unit 24 through basestation 22 to the MSC 20 serving Scott's unit (arrow 1). The MSC 20further routes the call on the basis of the dialed directory number toaccess tandem 18 (arrow 2), which routes the call to the SSP 12 servingScott's calling line (arrow 3). As noted, Laura's call is routed in aconventional manner in the communications system 6 from the wirelessnetwork 8 to the wireline network 10, and so the routing includes use ofthe Initial Address Message (IAM) in the Integrated Services DigitalNetwork User Part (ISUP) of the SS7 protocol. The IAM includes at leastLaura's MIN and/or MDN, and may include a point code or other identifierfor the MSC 20 serving Laura's wireless unit 24.

At the SSP 12, Scott's calling line is enabled for calling name deliveryservice. Thus, in response to Laura's call to Scott, the SSP 12 launchesa query for the information that is associated with the MIN and/or MDNof Laura's cell phone. In this example, the MIN and MDN of Laura's cellphone is 404.555.3200.

Preferably, the query is a TR-1 188[5] residential name query asexplained above, and in particular, a TR-1188 TCAP INVOKE message forcalling name (CNAM). The TCAP aspect of the query includes a GenericName(GN) parameter and a Digits parameter. The GN parameter is empty ofcontent, but the Digits parameter contains the MIN and/or the MDN ofLaura's wireless unit 24.

The query is routed initially to STP 16 in the wireline network (arrow4). The STP 16 performs a global title translation (GTT) on the MINand/or MDN in the query to obtain the point code of the network elementto which the query is to be ultimately routed. Thus, the STP 16 isprovisioned with or has access to information such as a table, database,chart, application, or the like which the STP 16 may use in connectionwith the MIN and/or MDN provided by the query to obtain the point codeof the network element to which the query is to be ultimately routed. Inthis example, the GTT results in a point code for the network element 28in the wireless network 8. After the STP 16 performs the GTT, the queryis routed in a conventional manner through the communications system 6until it reaches the STP 26 in the wireless network 8 serving thenetwork element to which the query is to be routed (arrow 5). The STP 26further routes the query to the SCP 28, and hence, to the HLR 30 (arrow6).

Generally stated, upon receipt of the query, the SCP 28 checks with theHLR 30 for an entry or a record including the MIN and/or MDN of Laura'swireless unit 24. There are four possible results to the check:

-   -   (1) The entry or record including the MIN and/or MDN is not        found. In that case, a response is returned pursuant to the        TR-1188 messaging process that includes a Return Error with the        error code set to “missing customer record”, or the like.    -   (2) The appropriate entry or record is found, but the associated        information is unavailable for some reason. In that case, a        response is returned pursuant to the TR-1188 messaging process        that includes a Return Error with the error code set to “data        unavailable”, or the like.    -   (3) The appropriate entry or record is found and the associated        information is available. As noted, the information may include        a presentation indicator as well as a calling party name. The        presentation indicator relates to the availability of the        calling party name for presentation to the called party. If the        presentation indicator is a presentation allowance, then the        response may include the calling party name (and/or other        information) in the GenericName parameter for presentation to        the called party. If the presentation indicator is a        presentation restriction, then the response may include a        “private” message, or the like in the GenericName parameter for        presentation to the called party.    -   (4) The query may be received as NOT for CNAM. In that case, a        response is returned pursuant to the TR-1188 messaging process        that includes a Return Reject with problem specifier set to        “Incorrect Parameter.”

Referring again to the example of Laura's call to Scott, uponsubscription to wireless service in the wireless network 8, informationregarding Laura and her wireless unit 24 were provisioned in the HLR 30of SCP 28. In particular, the HLR 30 was provisioned to include the MINand/or MDN of Laura's wireless unit 34 in association with Laura's nameand a presentation indicator or status. In this example, the status is“presentation allowance”.

Generally, the HLR 30 may include a calling name table with entries.Preferably, the calling name table is an extension to the homesubscriber profile database in an HLR pursuant ANSI-41. Each entry mayinclude a name (and/or other information) that is associated with a MINand/or MDN in the HLR 30. An entry also may include or be associatedwith a presentation indicator. In some embodiments, the entry mayinclude feature activation information as to whether the calling partypresentation feature is available. Inclusion of a calling party nameand/or other information may be included or not included in a responsebased on the feature activation information in the entry. Further, insome embodiments, the entry may include information as to a subsystemnumber and/or a translation type.

Thus, the MIN and/or MDN of a wireless unit (from the Digits parameterof the TR-1188 message) may be used to index into the calling name tableof the LR to retrieve a name (or other information) (and presentationindicator) from an entry corresponding to the wireless unit.

In a response to the query, the SCP 28 includes Laura's name as obtainedfrom the HLR 30, and in this example, as obtained from the entrycorresponding to Laura's wireless unit 34 on the basis of the MIN and/orMDN of Laura's unit 34 associated with or in the calling name tableincluded in the HLR 30. Also in this example, the SCP 28 includes the“presentation allowance” in the response. In particular, the SCP 28causes the response to be returned as a TCAP Return Result with theGenericName (GN) parameter populated with Laura's name. The SCP 28routes the response in a conventional manner through the communicationssystem 6, and particularly, through STP 26 in the wireless network 8(arrow 7), through the STP 16 in the wireline network 10 (arrow 8), andto the SSP 12 (arrow 9). Advantageously, the SSP 12 has obtained thename (and/or other information) associated with the wireless unit 34that initiated the call to a calling line served by the SSP 12. The SSP12 then transmits Laura's name (and/or other information) over callingline 13 for display on Scott's home telephone 14 (arrow 13). Scott isprovided with Laura's name (and/or other information relating to thewireless unit 34) as part of the calling name delivery service to whichScott subscribed.

Alternative Exemplary Embodiments

As noted in the example discussed in connection with FIG. 2 above,Laura's call on her wireless unit 24 is through the communicationssystem 6 to the SSP 12 serving the calling party 14. In the examplediscussed above, based on the called party being a subscriber to callingname delivery service, the SSP 12 then engages in a query/responseexchange with a network element 28 of the wireless network 8 so as toobtain the calling name and/or other information regarding the callingparty using the wireless unit.

But in at least a couple of exemplary embodiments, the need for the SSP12 serving the called party to obtain the calling party name and/orother information is obviated by the supply of such calling party nameand/or other information to the SSP 12. In an exemplary embodiment, theMSC 20 may include a location register (LR) that includes profileinformation as well as sub-profile information such as the calling partyname and/or other information associated with the MIN and/or MDN ofLaura's wireless unit 24. For example, the MSC 20 may include an entryin a register wherein the entry corresponds to the MIN and/or MDN ofLaura's unit 24 and is associated with Laura's name and a presentationindicator that is set to presentation allowance (or other setting). Uponreceipt of the call from Laura's wireless unit 24, the MSC 20 obtainsthe calling party name and/or other information from the entry. In thisexemplary embodiment, the MSC 20 may include the information (Laura'sname and the presentation allowance) in the set up and routing of thecall to the SSP 12 serving the called party 14.

In another exemplary embodiment, the MSC 20 may not include the callingparty name and/or other information, but the MSC may obtain suchinformation as part of the set up of the call to the wireline network10. In particular, the MSC 20 may obtain the calling party name and/orother information associated with the MIN and/or MDN of Laura's wirelessunit 24 from another network element or other source. For example, theMSC 20 may obtain the information from another wireless network elementsuch as the HLR 30 of the SCP 28. Laura's entry in the HLR 30 mayinclude sub-profile information such as calling party name and/or otherinformation. Also in this exemplary embodiment, the MSC 20 may includethe information (Laura's name and the presentation allowance) in the setup and routing of the call to the SSP 12 serving the called party 14.

CONCLUSION

In sum, the present inventions include the described exemplary methodsand systems for providing a calling party name and/or other informationcorresponding to a wireless unit to be stored in association with themobile identity number (MIN) and/or mobile directory number (MDN) of thewireless unit in a location register such as the home location register(HLR) in a network element of a wireless network. The network element isconfigured to accept and support the TR-1188, wireless intelligentnetwork (WIN), or the like messaging processes. When a calling partyuses a wireless unit to make a call to a wireline unit of a subscriberhaving calling name delivery service, the call is routed in aconventional manner to the service switching point (SSP) serving thecalling line of the wireline unit. Based on the called party's status asa subscriber, the SSP uses the appropriate messaging process in aquery/response exchange to obtain the calling party name and/or otherinformation from the appropriate network element that includes thecalling name (or other information) in or has access to an appropriatelocation register. The SSP then may provide the calling party nameand/or other information for display on the wireline unit or associateddisplay device.

From the foregoing description of exemplary embodiments, otheralternative constructions of the present inventions may suggestthemselves to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the scope of thepresent invention is to be limited only to the claims below and theequivalents thereof.

1. In a communications system including a wireless network and awireline network, the wireless network including a network elementfunctionally connected to the wireline network, the network element alsofunctionally connected to a location register (LR) with the LR includingan entry corresponding to a wireless unit, the entry including anidentifier of the wireless unit, and the wireline network including aservice switching point (SSP) serving a wireline unit connected to acalling line having information delivery service enabled, a method toprovide the wireline unit with information corresponding to the wirelessunit when the wireless unit makes a call to the wireline unit, themethod comprising: causing the identifier in the entry in the LR to beassociated with the information corresponding to the wireless unit; withrespect to receipt of the call to the wireline unit, causing the SSP tonote the calling line has been enabled for the information deliveryservice, and based thereon, to initiate a query to be routed to thenetwork element in the wireless network based on the identifier of thewireless unit for the information corresponding to the wireless unit,the query including the identifier of the wireless unit; in response toreceipt of the query by the network element, causing the network elementto use the identifier with the LR to find the entry in the LR includingthe identifier; and based on the information being associated with theidentifier in the entry, causing the LR to retrieve the informationcorresponding to the wireless unit and to provide the information to thenetwork element; causing the network element to provide the informationin a response routed to the SSP; and upon receipt of the response,causing the SSP to provide the information to the wireline unit.
 2. Themethod of claim 2 wherein the information comprises a name correspondingto the wireless unit.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: uponreceipt of the information, causing the wireline unit to display theinformation.
 4. A location register (LR) in a network element of awireless network, the LR comprising: a plurality of entries with eachentry including an identifier corresponding respectively to a wirelessunit; each identifier of an entry being associated with informationcorresponding respectively to the wireless unit; and the informationbeing retrievable respectively based on the identifier of the wirelessunit for provision in response to a query for the information receivedby the network element of the wireless network, whereby the informationcorresponding respectively to the wireless unit having the identifiermay be retrieved through use of the entry having the identifier in theLR of the network element in the wireless network.
 5. The LR of claim 4,wherein the information comprises a name corresponding respectively tothe wireless unit.
 6. The LR of claim 4, wherein the informationcomprises a presentation indicator with respect to a name, theidentifier; and wherein the presentation indicator comprises apresentation restriction, or a presentation allowance.
 7. A method for alocation register (LR) of a network element in a wireless network toprovide information associated with a wireless unit, the methodcomprising: causing the LR to include a plurality of entries with eachentry including an identifier and corresponding respectively to awireless unit, each identifier of an entry being associated withinformation corresponding respectively to the wireless unit; causing theLR in response to receipt of a query including the identifier to use theidentifier to find an entry having the identifier in common with thequery; based on the information being associated with the identifier ofthe entry, causing the LR to retrieve the information corresponding tothe wireless unit; and causing the LR to provide the information in aresponse to the query.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the informationcomprises a name corresponding respectively to the wireless unit.
 9. Themethod of claim 7, wherein the information comprises a presentationallowance with respect to a name, the identifier; and wherein afterfinding the entry, checking that the information associated with theidentifier of the entry comprises the presentation allowance prior tocausing the LR to retrieve the information corresponding to the wirelessunit.
 10. A method for a location register (LR) of a network element ina wireless network to respond to a request for information regarding awireless unit, the method comprising: causing the LR to include aplurality of entries with each entry including a identifiercorresponding respectively to a wireless unit, each identifier of anentry being associated with information corresponding respectively tothe wireless unit; causing the LR in response to receipt of a queryincluding the identifier to use the identifier to find an entry havingthe identifier in common with the query, the identifier of the entrybeing associated with information including a presentation restriction;and based on the presentation restriction, causing the LR to provide aresponse to the query, the response providing notice of the presentationrestriction.